Bad day for celebrities

[SadieKate]

You go, Irulan.

And why news can't be covered more than 1 day in a row is beyond me. Perhaps on the 2nd day there might be more information to offer?

I just about lost it last night when Keith O blabbered and speculated for at least 2 hours about Michael Jackson's death. Report the few facts that are known, break your normal coverage for new facts, and get back to world and national affairs (like Supreme Court rulings about strip searches of minors for unjust cause). If you want to pay homage, take 24 hours and put together a report that doesn't have the same stupid blathering talking heads and video footage re-circulating over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over ad nauseum.

[papaver]

I read TWO papers every morning.

So do I

[Crankin]

Me, too for reading the paper. On Thursday, it's 3 (when my local paper comes out). Usually don't get to the WSJ until the PM, though.
I scan the Yahoo headlines, but it's rare that I click on any story. I watch 1-2 hours of local news a night (when I am home) and the CBS national news. I look at CNN once in awhile, but it's too repetitive for me. I also read Time magazine. Yes, these are mainstream publications, but I take it all with a grain of salt.
Actually, the Boston Globe *does* do investigative reporting (i.e., the Catholic Church scandal), but a lot less of it now due to the financial condition of the paper. I was quite interested in the middle school case, because I could totally see how that could happen, although I know for sure my last boss would not have strip searched anyone! Can't say that for others, though. School law is very uneven in how court cases get decided. A few years ago I did a research paper on censorship in English classes and the decisions were all over the place according to the state, the level of court, the federal government.

[ACG]

In my opinion the media outlets are driven to make money. The picture of a now dead, music icon, who let a tumultuous life sells newspapers, keeps ratings up, crashes websites and basically makes money.

For me there are things that are vastly more important than this, but to whom?

Then there is escapism. Many out there would rather focus on his life/death or Farrah's life/death, even if it is only for a few hours, than wonder how we are going to pay our mortgage. It takes the mind to another place.

Additionally there are a large group who 'grew up' listening to the music, hearing it at school dances, birthday parties, etc. Now the association of that music, is of a man who is no longer here to make more music. Or the beauty icon that no one would ldave alone in her final days.

I read the LA Times and the WSJ and scan the internet and watch the news in no specific order.

Supreme court decisions are always on my mind, why, it's just what I am interested in reading. If some people are more concerned about a dead celebrity, whatever, doesn't bother me either.

[Irulan]

Oh, I'd read about that the day before and had half followed this whenever it first made the news last year or so? What I don't get is why the vice principal is not personally liable for the search.

courtesy the ACLU
http://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/searc...l20090625.html

In today's Supreme Court decision, despite deeming the strip search of Redding unconstitutional, the Court found that the school officials involved are immune from liability. The decision leaves open the possibility, however, that the Safford Unified School district could be held liable.

[jobob]

I just about lost it last night when Keith O blabbered and speculated for at least 2 hours about Michael Jackson's death.

Thank goodness Lee & I routinely record Keith and Rachel on the DVR to watch later in the evening. I just kept the controller on fast forward through both their broadcasts, it was all MJ mourners all the time. Bleah.

Hey, I'm just a wee bit sad about his passing because his music was such a fixture in my teens and twenties, during a very formative period in my life. Not that his music had anything to do with how my life turned out, but it was there in the background. Certain music takes me back to that time, his included. His music played a pretty significant role in the culture of that era (more recently, I'd think not).

But yeah, his passing does warrant a bit of my attention for these reasons. But it's probably overblown in the media, it's what they do and they're very good at it. It'll blow over in a few days.

Hell, if it really bugs you, go take a hike in Appalachia.

[redrhodie]

Well, back on topic for me...I was unexpectedly sad at Farrah's passing yesterday. I'd heard of her illness, and knew she was dying, but didn't expect to break into tears walking to the library, as I did.

I didn't realize how highly I thought of her until right then. I was a little young for "Charlies Angels" but I loved her in "The Burning Bed" and "Extremities", both of which were really powerful performances. These were really strong characters, and she brought them to life.

She came into a store I worked in once, and I have to say, she really was breathtaking.

[SadieKate]

In my opinion the media outlets are driven to make money.

TV stations are in the business of selling advertising to make money. The news is a sidebar. I wish I could cite the lawsuit that established this but it had something to do with paying staff overtime. This is all very hazy from some HR class I took in the Dark Ages.

[jobob]

TV stations are in the business of selling advertising to make money.

Hello!

[Zen]

Hell, if it really bugs you, go take a hike in Appalachia.

You mean take a hike on the Appalachian Trail?
Appalachian Trail, Appalachia. One is a trail that runs through Appalachia, the other is a geographic area.

As a person who lives in Appalachia I just wanted to clear that up. Now excuse me, I must go attend to my still in the holler.

[jobob]

Sorry, Appalachian Trail, that's what I meant.

[jobob]

Just curious, where do you folks go for "real" news - not to be confused with the ad-driven consumer oriented lowest common denominator stuff we often get ?

OK I admit this might be a loaded question, or an unanswerable question, but what the heck I've had my beer and I'm feelin' feisty.

[Zen]

Npr

[roadie gal]

Just curious, where do you folks go for "real" news - not to be confused with the ad-driven consumer oriented lowest common denominator stuff we often get ?

OK I admit this might be a loaded question, or an unanswerable question, but what the heck I've had my beer and I'm feelin' feisty.

I was much more into the news during the election than I am now, but here are some of my sites:

www.huffingtonpost.com
www.politico.com
www.rawstory.com
www.washingtonpost.com
Yahoo news
CNN in the morning
Rachel Maddow
and I read the Sierra Sun, our local biweekly paper

I almost forgot... I listen to NPR in the car and Coast To Coast AM on the way home from work because you MUST keep up on the UFO sightings.

[PamNY]

Newshour with Jim Lehrer and Worldfocus are two television options (both on PBS). Sirius/XM radio has the BBC World Service.